~Roy
The instructor walked ahead of me through a quiet corridor to a large, clean room located outside of General Daniel's office.
The tidy waiting area had red couches in the corners, a collection of musical instruments on a stand, and bookshelves along the wall. A few paintings hung neatly above the bookshelves.
When I entered General Daniel's office, the atmosphere changed. It was more luxurious, with expensive carpets, leather chairs, and bookshelves covering the walls. Everything was in its place. Tidy.
General Daniel was already sitting at his desk with perfect posture and sharp eyes. On the desk in front of him were two cups of tea. One was untouched; I think it was mine.
I gave him a hand salute in a gesture of respect and waited.
He returned my salute. "Have a seat."
I sat down silently.
He took a sip of his tea before speaking. "Okay, Roy. Tell me everything that happened in the fourth stage."
I carefully explained everything. I described the ambushes, what happened with Jack, and the final encounter.
Daniel listened without interruption; his eyes fixed on me. When I finished, he glanced at a document on his desk. Then, he raised his eyes again, this time looking more serious.
"You did a really good job," he said. "You and your team."
Then his expression hardened. "But can you help me understand why James's and Jack's right hands and left legs were severed?"
I shifted in my seat, breaking eye contact.
His tone wasn't angry, but firm. "The rule was clear: Do not kill. But that doesn't mean you can leave people disfigured or crippled."
I paused, exhaled softly, and met his gaze.
"They attacked us intending to kill. We defended ourselves with equal force. We didn't break the rules, but I understand the consequences of what happened. However, I take full responsibility. I'm sorry that it has come to this."
Daniel nodded slowly, his fingers tapping the rim of his desk.
He took a sip and spoke. "James, Jack, and Lucas have been removed from duty. After pressing James, we also found out about the instructor who supported them. He was removed from the duty as well. Their files have been referred to the High Council of the Empire. They will decide what happens next."
He looked at his teacup, then back at me.
"I'll let it go this time because of your performance. You did your job well. But don't take that as meaning that you are free to act without restrictions."
He leaned forward slightly.
"As a future leader, there's one thing you need to understand. Revenge never brings justice. It plants the seeds for more bloodshed." His tone grew louder. "Knowing when to stop is what separates a soldier from a leader."
I blinked, surprised. He had known from the beginning.
I swallowed that fact and nodded respectfully. "Thank you, sir. I will remember your words. I won't act like that again."
He finally gave a slight smile. "Good. It would be a shame for a cadet of your caliber to act that way."
Then, he stood up and continued, "You've been through quite a lot. Today and tomorrow are rest days for everyone who passed Stage 4, and you will receive the results tomorrow."
I rose from my seat. "Thank you, General."
He nodded once.
Then, I left the room. Suddenly, I thought about the fight with James, a strange feeling came in. He completely overpowered me. If the poison didn't work there, I could really lose. I am not strong enough yet to protect those around me. Because of that, I am going to train more seriously starting from tomorrow. There will be no more rest for me.
I headed straight for the showers. Finally, hot water, clean soap, and no dirt around my fingernails.
By the time I finished, it was afternoon. It was quiet. I felt like I hadn't breathed freely in a week.
Next, I went to the food court.
The smell of real food drew me in. I filled my plate and kept eating until I could barely move. My stomach was craving this more than I realized. I'm used to going days without eating, but I'm not going to pass up opportunities like this.
Before heading back to my room, I went to the prison where Lily had been staying since her arrival over a month ago. I really had no idea what was happening in these negotiations or why they took so much time. Devotion was looking for a big deal in exchange, which is why it's not easy to accept anything.
Thanks to Yuri's conversation with the guards, things were easier now. The instructor on duty recognized me and let me in.
I can't describe those feelings exactly, but I felt like I had finally arrived. I had some questions in my mind: Did they take care of her like they were supposed to? Or did they just not care?
The second I got close to her cell, I heard a soldier talking to her. I closed the distance and listened in.
"Do you think you're untouchable just because you're a princess?" the soldier asked.
I slowed my steps and took the side of the wall so he wouldn't notice me. The light of the torches lit up the cells and the way; I could see them clearly. Lily was sitting on the floor with her back against the cold stone wall. One of her arms was bound above her head by thick iron shackles attached to the wall, while the other hand was free. Her hair was a little messy, her face was pale, and her clothes weren't dirty. Her eyes were furious.
The soldier had brown skin, short yellow hair that was clearly dyed, and a tattoo on his neck.
He got close to her and leaned in, trying to reach her with his hand. "I'm trying to be nice to you here. You should learn to talk back a little—" In that second, I felt the urge to break the soldier's hand. I was ready to step in, but the second his hand touched her face...
She struck him with her free hand, landing a direct hit on his jaw and sending him back. "Don't ever dare touch me," she shouted, her voice sharp.
The soldier touched his jawline. "Agh! That really hurt!" He stood up. "Being nice with you is not the solution. Let's try the other method." He reached for the hilt of his sword. "I'll make you regret this."
I knew I needed to step in, so I quickly approached him and held his hand as he drew his sword. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked, my voice calm yet full of anger.
The soldier clearly panicked when he saw me. "Commander Roy?!"
I tightened my grip on his arm and continued. "Where is the honor of the Devotion soldiers?" I growled. "Is this how you represent us? Trying to touch an unarmed girl—is that really how you want her to remember Devotion?"
I glared at him; my eyes burned with disappointment.
"You've brought nothing but shame." My tone grew colder as I left his hand. "Now, hand over the keys and get lost."
He sheathed his sword and bowed. "I'm really sorry, Commander. That will never happen again." Then, he looked at me slowly, handed me the keys, and left quietly.
I watched him leave, then turned to face Lily. I felt really ashamed. When our eyes met, she looked relieved. "I'm really sorry about what happened. I'll make sure it never happens again," I said.
A little smile drew on her face. "Thank you. I'm glad you came. You disappeared for seven days."
There we are. I had completely forgotten those feelings after spending time there in the forest. But somehow, they don't annoy me anymore. I feel more comfortable than before. I leaned down, unlocked her handcuffs with the keys, then she pulled her hand out and grabbed it with her other hand, rubbing it.
I kept my composure and replied, "I was in the fourth stage."
She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"It's just like a survival exam if you want," I answered. "It was seven days in the woods, and it wasn't fun."
She looked surprised. "That sounds horrible."
"It was," I said with a small smile, then sat in the chair in her prison. "But it's finally over."
"You must be tired," she said softly.
I nodded. "A little."
She stood up, went to her bed, and sat down. Then she put her hand in her hair, fixing it because it was a little messy.
I looked at her and thought how hard it must be for her to stay in this place for a month. Yet, she seemed strong and calm. She was as composed as she had been on the first day she came here.
We made light conversation for a while. As I stood up to leave, I said, "Let me know if you need anything."
She replied with a smile. "I appreciate it. I'm all right for the time being."
When I turned to leave, I realized something. I had come here to earn her trust. But now, being with her made me feel comfortable, and in fact, I didn't mind it at all.
When I returned to my room, I found Andrew sitting on the floor, leaning against my bed and reading a book.
I raised my eyebrows. "A book on medicinal plants? That's new."
He chuckled and lifted his head. "When I dropped Sophia off, she gave this to me before she left. She said I should study plants and learn how to make medicine from them."
A small smile drew across my face. Even when she wasn't around, Sophia left a good mark on him.
I closed the door and threw myself on my bed.
"Love changes a man, doesn't it?"
Without turning or lifting his head, Andrew grabbed an empty bag and threw it at my face.
"Stop it."
He sighed and closed the book. "Anyway, what did General Daniel say?"
I pulled the bag away from my face and recounted everything that had happened in General Daniel's office to Andrew, word by word.
He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank God it ended like that," he said. Then, his eyes narrowed slightly. "But wait... How did he know? Do you think James told him?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe. I wouldn't be surprised."
Andrew tapped his fingers on the side of the bed. "So, you spent all this time with the General?"
I shook my head. "No, after that, I went out to eat and I ate a lot. This is the first decent meal I've had in a week. Finally, I went to meet Lily."
Andrew laughed. "You're not alone. I did the same thing. I thought to myself, 'Finally, real food.'"
He suddenly straightened up, his voice turning serious.
"But enough joking around. Seriously, what's going on with the princess?"
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
He sat up straighter, gesturing with both hands, and turned his face toward me. "You've been visiting her a lot. You go to see her, talk to her, and each time you stay a little longer. Tell me, how do you feel about all this?"
I stopped. He wasn't being sarcastic; he really wanted to know what was going on. It made me think for a second.
"Talking to her doesn't bother me," I said. "In fact, I feel comfortable around her. We have a lot in common. I feel like myself when we talk."
Andrew raised an eyebrow. "So, you like her."
I looked at him calmly. "If I liked her, I wouldn't be so stupid as to not realize it." '<--He is'
He stood up and sat down in the chair. "The feeling you're having is called admiration or liking someone."
"Why are you so confident? Of course, I know what it feels like to like someone." '<-- He doesn't know.'
He folded his arms. "You've never liked or admired anyone before, so you don't even know how..."
Suddenly, the door opened with a loud kick.
Crimzo stood there, smiling like he owned the place and munching on an apple. "Hey, guys, I'm bored. What are you doing?"
Andrew jumped up. "Don't you know how to knock?"
Crimzo tilted his head innocently. "Why would I do that? Are you hiding something?"
I glanced at him. "He's got a point."
Andrew glared. "It's just called manners."
"We were just talking about the mission," I said, trying to change the subject.
Crimzo came in and sat in the desk chair in the corner of the room. "Your room isn't bad."
I replied. "You like it? Who do you share your room with?"
"I didn't even know his name. He dropped out of the first stage. I'm in there alone." He took two more bites. "And it's cozy."
Andrew narrowed his eyes. "Crimzo, you're already on our team, right?"
Crimzo took another bite of his apple and ignored the question completely. His gaze fell on the chessboard on the table in the corner. "Oh, chess! I've heard a lot about this game. Sounds like fun."
Andrew stood up. "Don't avoid the question..."
Crimzo, still chewing, interrupted him. "Anyway, I didn't come here to sit in a room with four walls. Do you want to go for a walk?"
Andrew sighed, clearly annoyed, but let it slide. "Okay. Let's see what's going on at the campground."
I stood up and stretched. "Yeah, why not?"
My feet are already tired, but it's fine if I walk a little.
As the sun set behind the hills, we walked through the camp. It was unusually quiet because most of the cadets were sleeping or resting after the fourth stage, only the soldiers who worked here and the instructors were moving around. The final list of results and ranks wouldn't be announced until tomorrow, so the camp seemed peaceful for now.
Along a pathway near the edge of the camp, we saw a blonde girl stretching alone, deeply focused.
Crimzo nudged me with his elbow. "This girl is Lauren. She came back alone from the fourth stage without a scratch. Not even a bruise. She's good."
I looked at her, feeling slightly curious. There was something unique about her presence, but we didn't stop. We kept walking.
We saw Stephanie coming back from the medical tent ahead of us. She had a bandaged hand, fresh scratches on her face, and her red hair was tied up. She must have fought harder than the others. After finishing our walk, we went back to our rooms.
Morning came and tension filled the air. Everyone was waiting for the results.
I walked with Andrew, Crimzo, and Sophia, who leaned slightly on her cane for support. Together, we walked toward the central board where the results were posted. A crowd had already gathered around it, looking at the results. I recognized everyone in the crowd. Everyone we knew was there: Kylie, Loyd, Lora, Ria, and Henry.
I scanned the list.
Above it was the official note:
Congratulations to all cadets who passed the fourth stage!
Ranking is based on the number of flags captured and tokens collected.
Oliver Patriot – Rank 1
Stephanie Lisa – Rank 2
Lauren Kathy – Rank 3
Kasper Lith – Rank 4
Emma wall – Rank 5
Roy Celgius – Rank 6
...
Sophia Villa – Rank 8
...
Crimzo Lee – Rank 10
Andrew Celgius – Rank 11
...
Lora Brave – Rank 19
...
Kylie Lokes – Rank 24
.
Loyd Harren – Rank 27
.
Ria Velton – Rank 28
.
Henry Loith – Rank 71
Please head to the administration office to pick up your new metal badge after handing in your old one.
Seventy-one cadets?! That's a drop from 132 to 71. Almost half!
Oliver and Stephanie remained at the top. That was impressive. My ranking jumped from 38 to 6.
Honestly? That was enough for me; I didn't want to be in first place. I just wanted to be among the top names. For now, that was enough.
Sophia laughed beside us. "You're still last, Andrew. You need to work harder."
Crimzo smiled. "You talk a lot, but I'm ranked higher than you. Show some respect."
Andrew laughed and shook his head. "The two of you really know how to get under someone's skin."
I looked at Lauren's name again. Rank 3. Yesterday was the first time I'd seen her. It was strange how I hadn't noticed her before.
Then, my eyes dropped to Henry's name. Rank 71.
It was sad and funny, in a way. He deserved better than that—maybe even a spot in the top 20.
And a good job for Kylie, I thought, looking at her. She looked happy. Ranked 24th. Not bad. Same for her friends and Lora.
I slowly walked away from the board, trying to escape the conversations that would follow.
I looked at my hand and remembered that fight. There was no room for failure anymore. I needed to get stronger.
I quietly left, wandering away from the crowd because I wanted to spend some time alone. That's when I ran into Oliver.
Our eyes met, but this time, I spoke first.
"It's impressive how you stayed in first place the whole time," I said. "I admit you're talented."
He smiled and walked beside me in the opposite direction. "You did well too. You didn't disappoint me in the end. But I think we'll face each other in the final stage. Be ready."
This guy talks like he's straight out of a movie. It's a slightly annoying way of talking.
"Sure," I replied simply.
But that was another reason to train. Oliver wasn't like James. He was smarter and more composed. I needed to face him with all my strength.
On my way back, I saw Yuri approaching.
"There you are," he said. "I was looking for you."
We walked together to a quieter area.
He asked me about everything that had happened in the fourth stage. I told him the truth, even about the revenge.
"Revenge was a mistake," Yuri said bluntly. "It's good that Daniel let it go. Still, you did well. I'm not judging your actions."
Then he laughed and added, "Honestly, if I were in your place, I probably would have done the same thing."
I narrowed my eyes, still trying to understand him. He was quick to let things go, yet nothing escaped his attention.
Then his tone changed. "After a lot of letters and messages, we finally reached an agreement about the princess. An exchange agreement."
"It took us so long. Why is that?" I replied, crossing my arms.
He sighed. "The Drayton king is just nervous. General Daniel and Minister Scott are too strict. It took them forever to reach an agreement."
He looked me in the eyes. "So, I came to ask you, have you gained her trust?"
I paused and looked down. I had a strange feeling in my chest. Was it sadness or happiness? Or was it something else?
"If that's what it is, then yes," I said. "I'll go talk to her now."
Yuri nodded. "You won't have much time. Daniel could call us at any moment. But if you win her trust, it will be good for the future."
I nodded respectfully. "I'll go make sure," I said, quickly walking away.
"During the preview month, everyone tried to speak with her. I tried myself. She was as cold as ice and didn't look at us," he said, then chuckled. "If you ask me, I really don't know what her voice sounds like."
If that's true, then she must have trusted me enough to make conversation with me. I had to go see her. Not for a simple conversation this time.
I had to ask the questions that had been on my mind for so long.
Do you know me?
Why do you treat me differently?
Did she know anything about my past?
Today, I would find out. I hoped she would answer me.